The International Day of Peace or World Peace Day, is observed annually on 21 September. It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence.
In 1981 the United Nations General Assembly declared that an International Day of Peace be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace. It has been declared as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.
In 2006 the UN asserted the “many ways it works for peace and to encourage individuals, groups and communities around the world to contemplate and communicate thoughts and activities on how to achieve peace.” In 2011 the UN Peace Day’s theme was “Peace and Democracy: Make Your Voice Heard”. Many organisations held Peace Day events worldwide. There were school activities, music concerts, global comedy clubs, peace doves, prayer vigils, peace conferences, and UN activities. Organisations like Peace One Day, Wiser, and Culture of Peace have been active participants in Peace Day activities for a number of years.
In 2012 the theme was Global Truce. Particular focus in this campaign included a cessation of hostilities on the day and a reduction of domestic violence and bullying in society.
World Peace Day 2015
Peace Day is not just about a reduction of violence in areas of conflict, it is also about reducing violence in our homes, communities and schools. Over the years, millions of people have organised all kinds of events to promote awareness of Peace Day including Peace Day concerts, football matches, flash mobs, poetry readings, coffee mornings, art and photography exhibitions as well as screenings of Peace One Day films.
Events around the world have started with individual action, and your actions will inspire others. Peace Day is about empowering individuals to make a difference. It is everyone’s legacy.
The goal is to encourage reconciliation and peace-building in our own local community.
Peace starts with individual action, so Peace Day is an opportunity for all of us to become engaged in the peace process with our families, friends and communities.
The Peace One Day 2013 Report found that approximately 470 million people in 200 countries were aware of Peace Day 2013 – that is a 68% increase from 2012. Approximately 1-2% of those people (4-8 million) behaved more peacefully as a result. The progress of 2014 creates a solid foundation for informing 3 billion people about Peace Day by 2016.